Art. XXXIII.—Catalogue of the hitherto described Worms of New Zealand.

By Prof. F. W. Hutton.

Genus Polycelis, Hemp. and Ehr.

Mouth subcentral; pharynx cylindrical. Eyes numerous, occasionally in a heap on the neck, also in lines on the margin.

P. Australis, Schmarda.

Body flat, oblong-oval, brown; eye-clusters irregularly surrounded by a halo.

Auckland, and New South Wales. Marine.

Genus Centrostomum, Schmarda.

Mouth central, orbicular; pharynx multilobed, divided or crenated.

C.Polysorum, Schmarda.

Body oblongo-oval, truncated anteriorly; light brown; eye-clusters many.

Auckland.

Genus Thysanozoon, Grube.

With frontal pseudo-tentacles, Back with numerous papillæ. Eyes numerous.

T. cruciatum, Schmarda.

Body flat, elliptical. Papillæ conical. Two bands at right-angles to each other, destitute of papillæ. Eye-clusters cervical; two semi-circular.

Port Jackson and Auckland. Marine.

Genus Geoplana, Schultze.

Body long; mouth central; eyes numerous, anterior, and marginal. Terrestrial.

G. Traversii, Moseley. Q.J. of Micros. Science, Vol. XVII., p. 284.

Body elongate, flat beneath, slightly convex above, bluntly-pointed posteriorly, more gradually attenuated anteriorly; broadest in the centre; generative aperture a little less than half the distance between the mouth and posterior extremity; ambulacral line absent, the whole under-surface acting as a sole; eye-spots forming a single row of ten or so on the front of the anterior extremity, and an elongate patch composed of two or three rows on the lateral margin of the body, just behind the anterior extremity; also present, sparsely scattered, on the lateral margins of the body for its entire length; body of a pale yellow on its lateral margins, with a broad mesial stripe on the dorsal surface, extending for its entire length, of a dark chocolate colour; and four narrow, ill-defined, and somewhat irregular similarly coloured stripes on either side of it, extending to the lateral margins of the body; under-surface, pale yellow.

Wellington.

Order Nemertidea.

Long worm-like, mostly marine, diœcious, proboscis-bearing; body sometimes transversely striped.

Genus Ommatoplea, Ehrenberg.

Abranchiate; head entire; eyes many; proboscis terminal; mouth, subterminal; appendix none.

O.Heterophthalma, Schmarda.

Body depressed, tape-worm-like. Median line white, rest of the body red. Head indistinct, apex acuminate. Eyes in transverse lines.

Under stones on the shore, Auckland.

Genus Meckelia, Leuckart.

Respiratory fissures two, longitudinal. Eyes none. Proboscis terminal.

Mouth subterminal.

M. Macrostoma, Schmarda.

Body depressed, greenish blue. Head attenuated. Fissures subterminal, short. Proboscis subterminal. Mouth oblongo-oval, very broad.

Auckland.

M. Macrorrhochma, Schmarda.

Body rather flat, brownish olive. Head distinct, oblongo-lanceolate. Respiratory fissures as long as the mouth.

Shores of New Zealand.

Class Gephyrea.

Body cylindrical, with a thick coriaceous skin, often indistinctly ringed. Head not distinct from the body, often produced into a proboscis.

Family Sipunculidæ.

Cylindrical, mouth at the tip of a retractile proboscis, surrounded with tentacles, and often with hooks; anus dorsal; teeth none.

Genus Sipunculus, Linnæus.

Skin netted with anastomosing muscular fibres; proboscis short, with simple tentacles.

S. Æneus, Baird, P.Z.S., 1868, p. 81.

Body cylindrical, slender, attenuated anteriorly, posteriorly thick, fusiform, reticulated, in the anterior portion corrugated, then smoother and minutely granulated; caudal apex oval, smooth, shining; proboscis short, smooth, the anterior portion thicker than the body; colour white, shining bronze. Length, 6 ½ in.; thickness of anterior part, 1 ½ lines; of posterior part, 4 lines; length of proboscis, 6 lines; thickness, 2 lines. New Zealand (Mr. Cuming).

Class Annelida.

Body composed of numerous, more or less similar, segments; limbs none, or rudimentary; skin generally with chitinous bristles.

Order Oligochætæ.

Head rudimentary; no branchiæ; hermaphrodite; mostly land or fresh water.

Genus Lumbricus, Linnæus.

Setæ in four double rows.^*

L. Uliginosus, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. IX., p. 351, pl. VII., f. A.

Cephalic lobe large and rounded, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts, and with a transverse sulcus on the posterior superior portion, between the divided halves of the buccal segment; anterior margin of buccal segment deeply emarginate inferiorly. Colour, reddish. Length, eight or nine inches.

L. Campestris, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. IX., p. 351, pl. VII., f. B.

Cephalic lobe large, subconical, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts; anterior margin of buccal segment entire, or slightly eroded interiorly. Colour reddish, or olivaceous green, paler below. Length, two or three inches.

L. Levis, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. IX., p. 351., pl. VII., f. C.

Cephalic lobe small, conical, simple; anterior border of buccal segment slightly emarginate superiorly, entire inferiorly. Pale flesh colour or greenish. Length, three to four inches.

L. Annulatus, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., IX., p. 352, pl. VII. f. D.

Cephalic lobe small and flattened, divided into anterior and posterior divisions inferiorly; anterior border of buccal segment emarginate superiorly, entire inferiorly; colour pale brownish-red, each segment with a dark reddish-brown transverse band in the centre, paler below. Length, about three inches.

Genus Megasolex

Setæ in numerous rows all round the body.

M. Antarctica, Baird, P.L.S., XI., p. 96.

Body consisting of about 180 rings; setæ surrounding the body, short, black, rather distant; rings not keeled, larger and more distinct at the anterior extremity, closer at the posterior end, and all smooth. Length, seven inches.

M. Sylvestris, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. IX., p. 352., pl. VII., f. E.

Cephalic lobe small flattened, with a deep transverse groove superiorly, and divided into anterior and posterior portions inferiorly; anterior border of buccal segment deeply excavated superiorly, entire inferiorly; setæ in about 30 double rows. Colour dark red-brown. Length, one and a-half to two inches.

M. Lineatus, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., IX., p. 352, pl. VII., f. F.

Cephalic lobe small, rounded, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts; anterior border of buccal segment slightly

emarginate inferiorly; setæ minute in single rows; colour reddish-brown, finely longitudinally striated with lighter; length two inches.

Order Chætopoda.

Body not presenting distinct regions; branchiæ dorsal; sexes distinct; limbs tubular, setigerous. Marine.

Family Aphroditidæ.

Segments unequal, with dorsal, shield-like elytra; head lobes developed, with a single tentacle and lateral antennæ and palpi; eyes sessile or stalked; gills small, simple; epipharynx generally with two upper and two lower teeth and jaws.

Genus Aphrodita, Linnæus.

Head with three antennæ, two eyes, and a median caruncle or tubercle; buccal segment rudimentary without appendix; all the feet more or less covered with hairs, no barbed bristles; elytra 12–15 pairs alternating with the superior cirri; proboscis unarmed, or with rudimentary cartilaginous teeth.

A. Talpa, Quatrefages, Hist. Nat. des Annelés, I., p. 196, pl. 6, f. 2.

Median tentacle very short, laterals long; body of 32 segments; feet enveloped in hairs; elytra 30, rounded, small; the whole back covered with dirty, brown hairs.

A. Squamosa, Quatrefages, l.c. I., p. 201.

Head small, distinct, hidden by the prominent elytra; median antenna short, thick, truncated (?); laterals twice as long, slender; tentacles short; body of 27 segments, moderate, elongated; feet apparently one-oared, prominent; elytra 24, large, rugose, robust, covering the whole body; superior cirri longish, on a thick, compressed, swelling; hairs short, not covering the elytra; branchiæ more or less conical, and separated tubercles.

Genus Polynoe, Savigny.

Head distinct with 3 antennæ and 4 eyes; buccal ring indicated by the presence of two pairs of tentacles, the superior of which are bifurcate; the inferior longer, thicker, and simple. Feet more or less evidently biramous; the setigerous tubercles on a common peduncle; elytra alternating with the superior cirri of the feet, covering the whole length of the back; proboscis with two pairs of horny jaws.

P. Aucklandica, Schmarda, Neue Wirbelloser Thiere, p. 158.

Body long, greyish-yellow; segments 60; tentacles 7; elytra oblique, oval.

Auckland.

P. Mackolepidata, Schmarda, l.c., p. 155, pl. 36, f. 306.

Body flat, brown; elytra 15 pairs, large, oval, or suboval, greyish

yellow, spotted with brown, margin fimbriated with conical spines. Tentacles smooth; dorsal cirri spinulose.

Auckland.

This species belongs to the genus Antinoe of Kinberg, in which the bases of the antennæ are fixed under the margin of the emarginated cephalic lobe, close to the tentacle.

P. Polychroma, Schmarda, l.c., p. 153, pl. 36, f. 307.

Body flat, yellowish-red; elytra 12 pairs, oval, yellowish, spotted with greyish-blue or greyish-red on the inferior external margin. Tentacles and cirri smooth.

This species, and the next, belong to the genus Lepidonotus of Leach, in which the bases of the antennæ are produced from the anterior margin of the cephalic lobe.

P. Sinclairi, Baird, P.L.S., Zoology, VIII., p. 184.

Head lobe rather small; palpi stout white, setaceous, smooth; elytra 12 pairs, pale coloured, mottled with black; rounded, thin, covered all over with minute points, with some larger raised and rounded punctations intermixed; ciliated on outer margin. Back completely covered. Feet biramous; ventral branch the larger, with a fascicle of yellow bristles, stout, slightly curved at the point, and serrated a short distance below the apex. Dorsal branch small; bristles short, slender, sharp-pointed, and minutely serrated nearly their whole length. Dorsal cirri conical, setaceous, smooth; anal cirri rudimentary. Length, about 9 lines; breadth, 2 lines.

Genus Pelogenia, Schmarda.

Body vermiform, long; elytra in all the segments. Suctorial feet in the back and abdomen; oars biramous. Tentacles seven, their external bases coalescing.

P. Antipoda, Schmarda, l. c., p. 160.

Back convex, blackish in front, reddish-yellow behind. Abdomen ferruginous, with a deep median sulcus. Suctorial feet disposed in four systems on the abdomen; two at the margins of the sulcus, the others at the bases of the ventral cirri. Dorsal suctorial feet behind and between the elytra. Dorsal elytra hardly covering, brownish-red, the margins undulating. Setæ golden, articulated, the superior part longer than the inferior, thin; superiorly short and broad.

Family Euniceidæ.

Rounded, long, flattened ventrally; head lobes notched in front, with 1–5 tentacles; several separate upper, and two, often united, lower jaws; feet simple with acicula. Living in sand-burrows.

Genus Eunice, Cuvier.

Head with two eyes, and five antennæ placed in a single transverse row; buccal segment with two tentacles; branchiæ pectinate, or laciniate, on one side; setæ composite, with short spoon-shaped appendage.

E. Gaimardi, Quatrefages, l.c. I., p. 321.

Head moderately notched; antennæ apparently moniliform; buccal segment rather long; tentacles moderate, subarticulated; upper jaws slender, lower six-toothed; border of denticule undulated; labrum narrow, slightly notched; body composed of 120 segments; upper cirri of feet thick longish, the lower smaller; branchiæ 6-fimbriate.

E.Australis, Quatrefages, l.c. I., p. 321.

Head short, broad, deeply notched; antennæ long, moniliform; buccal segment long. Tentacles longish, subarticulated. Upper jaws robust; lower 10-dentate; denticule toothed; body of 120–180 segments; upper cirri of feet thick and longish, the lower small, fixed to a thick base; branchiæ 7-fimbriate.

Genus Notocirrhus, Schmarda.

No eyes nor antennæ; feet with a superior cirrus and simple setæ, or the setæ simple and composite.

N. Sphærocephalus, Schmarda, l.c., p. 116.

Head globose. Body rounded, ochraceous. Branchiæ (dorsal cirri) sub-cylindrical. Setæ few, two-haired, border fringed, apex short and with five uncinate spinules.

Family Amphinomidæ.

Angular or flat; segments equal, few; head small, usually with five tentacles; toothless; branchiæ dorsal comb- or tree-like; bristles hair-like serrate, not acicular; head lobes often compressed.

Genus Chloëia Savigny.

Head with three antennæ, two eyes, and a caruncle; buccal segment with two tentacles. Body more or less oval, with two thick, short, cylindrical cirri at the posterior extremity. Feet biramous, the branches distinct. Branchiæ bipinnate, two on each segment, remote from the feet.

C. Inermis, Quatrefages, l.c., I., p. 389.

C. gegena (?), Grube Beschr., neu. od. Wen. bek. ann., p. 91.

Head small. Lateral antennæ about equal to the tentacles, median larger. Caruncle crested, broad, and with a narrow margin. Body oval, elongate. Setæ of both feet simple; branchiæ small.

C. Spectabilis, Baird, P.L.S., X., p. 234.

Body rounded-fusiform, attenuated at each end, of about 34 segments. Colour pale, dotted all over with numerous small white round spots varying

in size. Caruncle long, narrow, extending over 4 or 5 segments. Ventral cirri white; dorsal cirri long and subulate, of a beautiful purple colour. Branchiæ simply branched. Bristles of both feet capillary, slender, and simple, those of the dorsal tuft longer and stouter than the ventral.

Family Nephthyidæ.

Body long, many-jointed; lateral feelers small; peristome without cirri, but with parapodia and papillæ in place of teeth.

Genus Nephtys, Cuvier.

Head small, with four small antennæ. Body terminated by one anal cirrus. Branches of feet separated; the superior carrying a cirriform branchia on its inferior border.

N. Macroura Schmarda, l.c., p. 91. Quat., I, p. 430.

Body prismatico-cylindrical, greyish-yellow. Head trapezoidal. Eyes large. Tentacles four, distinct; jaws two on a horny base. Branchiæ short; inferior lamellar process large. Ventral cirrus obsolete. Caudal cirrus filiform long.

Family Nereidæ.

Body long, with two anal cirri; head flat, small, with four eyes, two small middle and two large outer antennæ; peristome with eight feelers; epipharynx protrusible, with two large horizontally moveable jaws, armed with denticles; parapodia double, with acicula, and no hair-like bristles.

Genus Nereis, Lamarck.

Head with four eyes and four antennæ; latero-external antennæ very thick terminated by a small distinct joint; buccal segment very distinct with 4 pairs of subulate tentacles; proboscis short, divided into 3 regions, of which two are exsertile, always armed with two strong curved jaws, and generally with very small and numerous denticles; feet biramous; superior branch with two tongue-like accessory branchiæ, inferior branch with a single similar one; both branches with bristles and a cirrus.

N. Robusta, Quatrefages, l.c. I., p. 544, not of Kinberg.

Head broad, elongated, anterior sulcus apparently bipartite; lateral antennæ very thick, broad, shorter than the head; the median small, conical; buccal segment short. Tentacles shorter than the head; jaws broad, internal margin straight, 5–6-dentate. Denticles numerous, large, disposed in balls; body broad, of 107 segments; feet very short, appendices rounded, each with a short cirrus.

N. Pacifica, Schmarda, l.c., p. 107, pl. XXXI., f. 246. Quat., l.c., I., p. 546, not N. pacifica, Quat., from Peru.

Back obscure green; belly greenish-yellow; segments 180; head rounded; external tentacles rounded, short; branchiæ and ventral cirri All

shorter than the feet; jaws with short apices; teeth five, rounded, irregular.

Auckland.

Genus Heteronereis, œrsted.

Head, body, and anterior feet like Nereis; posterior feet very different from the others, carrying a foliaceous lobe, and the bristles sometimes single, sometimes mixed.

H. Australis, Schmarda, l.c., p. 101, pl. XXXI., f. 242. Quat. I., p. 577.

Body flat, 96-ringed; jaws tridentate; appendices of the feet tongue-shaped and leaf-like; branchiæ (dorsal cirri) longer than the feet; upper tubercle subglobose; green in front, yellow behind.

Family Glyceridæ.

Segments many-ringed; proboscis club-shaped, protrusible; bristles with acicula; branchiæ short or none.

Genus Glycera, Savigny.

Head small, conical. Branches of the feet approximated, on a common peduncle, bristles simple and composite, with two acicula in each branch. Proboscis with four hooked teeth, with no points.

G. Ovigera, Schmarda, l.c., p. 95, pl. 30, f. 239. Quat. II., p. 188.

Body yellowish or brownish-green; bipartite segments of the jaws with a broad base, external process quadrangular, pedicelled; proboscis ringed at the base, with a double series of papillæ; branchiæ (dorsal cirri) short, conical; feet notched; pectiniform ovaria at the base of the feet.

The body of this species is greenish, the feet yellow.

Family Phyllodocidæ.

Body long, many-jointed; head lobes small; antennæ 4 or 5; eyes 2–4; epipharynx with papillæ; ventral cirri leaf-like.

Genus Eulalia, Savigny.

Head with five antennæ and two or four eyes; buccal segment simple, double or triple, with four pairs of tentacles; body long, linear, narrow, always composed of a large number of rings; feet one-branched, armed with composite bristles, generally with a leaf-like cirrus.

E. Cæca, Quatrefages, l.c., II., p. 123.

Head small, rounded; antennæ small, the median behind; eyes none (?); buccal segment triple; tentacles very short, thick, disposed 1,2,1 on each side; body roundish, of 250–270 segments; feet small, exposed; upper cirri thick, hardly leaf-like, small, lanceolate; lower small mamillæform; bristles simple, short, straight, deciduous.

This very common species is of a dark green colour—(F.W.H.)

Genus Porroa, Quatrefages.

Head with five antennæ; buccal segment with only two tentacles.

P. Microphylla, Schmarda, l.c., p. 86, pl. 29, f. 230. Quat. II., p. 128.

Back very convex, blackish green; branchiæ rich green, small, ovalocordate; eyes four. Tentacles (antennæ) two frontal, two lateral, dissimilar, cervical. Tentacles two; ventral cirri tubercular.

Family Syllidæ.

Body elongated; head with tentacles, often with eyes; peristome with 2–4 cirri, often united to the prostomium; pharynx not protrusible, sometimes toothed, or with a chitinous tube, which bears a boring spine; feet one-branched, with two aciculate bristle clusters; ventral cirri short or none.

Genus Sph rosyllis, Quatrefages.

Head not distinct from the buccal segment, with two frontal lobes, five antennæ or tentacles, and eyes.

S.Macrura, Schmarda, l.c., p. 70 (Syllis). Quat., l.c. II., p. 53.

Body yellowish, convex above; below flat; frontal lobes conical; eyes four, disposed in a trapezium; branchiæ (upper cirri) short; 30 articulated.

Family Cirrhatulidæ.

Body rounded, fusiform; head with no teeth, antennæ, nor tentacles; feet in two series, on the lower hooks; thread-like gills on many of the segments.

Genus Cirratulus, Lamarck.

Head conic, mouth inferior; body cylindrical; first and last segments only without branchiæ.

C. Anchylochætus, Schmarda, l.c., p. 58. Quat., I., p. 458.

Body ochraceous; branchiæ red; back convex, belly flat; sides narrow, angulated.

Order Cephalobranchiata.

Worm-like marine animals, mostly protected by a tube; body presenting distinct regions; respiration by branchiæ placed near or on the head. Sexes distinct; no teeth, nor epipharynx.

Family Pherusidæ.

Free; peristome without bristles; branchiæ of simple threads surrounded by a girdle of long, yellow, thick bristles; segments not ringed; feet with upper linear and lower hook-like bristles; sometimes with terminal suckers.

Genus Chloræma, Dujardin.

Mouth subterminal, placed between the two antennæ; body elongated, fusiform, covered with long hairs.

C. Bicolor, Schmarda, l.c., p. 21, pl. 20, f. 169. Quat., l.c., I., p. 477.

Segments 50; body rounded, attenuated behind, greyish-yellow, anterior portion blue; the whole surface covered with a hyaline jelly; upper bundles of bristles 4-haired; the lower with hooked setæ.

Genus Siphonostomum, Grube.

Head distinct; body naked, attenuated behind; feet with simple bristles on both feet.

S. Antarcticum, Baird, P.L.S., XI., p. 95.

Setæ surrounding the head numerous, very short and fine; branchiæ short, numerous; body covered with an enveloping substance like that of most of the known species (shaggy). Setæ of the inferior ramus of feet single, crooked or hooked at the point, and of nearly a black colour. Colour of body varying from a very dark to a light brown, and of a transparent look. Length of longest specimen nearly three inches.

Family Hermellidæ

Tubiculous; segments of two or three kinds, the hinder thread-like with no appendages; head lobes fleshy, with a circlet of yellow paleæ on the prostomial border, which acts as an operculum; tube built up of cemented shells.

Genus Pallasia, Quatrefages.

Tentacles joined upon the upper face; operculum formed by two concentric rows of setæ; body divided into three regions.

P. Quadricornis, Schmarda, l.c., p. 25, pl. 20, f. 174 (Hermella). Quat., l.c., II., p. 324.

Body reddish-yellow; head and branchiæ violet; dorsal branchiæ blue; papillæ short; external paleæ aculeate at the sides; internal geniculate, aculeate; occipital spines four.

Family Terebellidæ.

Inhabiting soft, fragile tubes; body with two distinct regions; head without paleæ and lobes, but with large, moveable, ciliated, branchiæ, serving as touch- and prehensile-organs.

Genus Terebella, Linnæus.

Three pairs of arborescent branchiæ.

T. Plagiostoma, Schmarda, l.c., p. 41, pl. 24, f. 196. Quat., l.c., II., p. 366.

Body reddish-yellow; cephalic branchiæ pale, short; laterals cinnabarred, short; pinnulæ in the last segment; mouth transverse.

T. Heterobranchia, Schmarda, l.c., p. 42, pl. 24, f. 197. Quat., l. c., II., p. 366.

Body yellowish-grey; cephalic branchiæ clear; first lateral branchia, consisting of many equal branches, the others with one branch longer; mouth obsolete quadrangular; pinnulæ.

Family Sabellidæ.

Tubiculous; body with two distinct regions; cephalic branchiæ pinnate, in two circlets or spirals, one of which may be rudimentary.

Genus Sabella, Savigny.

Head indistinct; branchiæ equal, more or less fan-shaped; anterior region not very distinct, scarcely broader than the posterior region; tubes membranous, open at one end only.

S. Armata, Quatrefaces, l.c., II., p. 453.

Head indistinct; branchiæ short, base produced into 22 free cirri; antennæ two pairs; collar dilated, six-lobed; anterior body segments light; setæ dissimilar, uncinate and crested.

S. Ceratodaula, Schmarda, l.c., p. 33, pl. 22, f. 186. Quat., l.c., II., p. 459.

Branchiæ hardly one-fourth the length of the body, striped with yellow and brown; body brownish-yellow.

S. Grandis, Baird, P.L.S., XIII., p. 160.

Collar rather broad, and deeply bilobed; thoracic feet seven pairs; segments belonging to them smooth not grooved on the upper dorsal surface; back dark brown, rather yellow underneath; feet numerous, about 100. Peduncles large, well developed; anterior and posterior divisions separated by a groove, in the centre of which are situated the feet; a deep groove along the dorsal surface, except the seven thoracic segments; setæ short, slender, smooth, setaceous, sharp-pointed. Length, without branchiæ 6 ½ inches. Case, a leathery-looking tube, covered externally with a thin coat of mud.

Family Serpulidæ.

Tubiculous; two ciliated skin-folds on the front segments; branchiæ with a spiral basis, with one or two opercula with chitinous or calcareous discs. Tubes calcareous, attached to stones, etc., or free.

Genus Serpula, Linnæus.

A single cartilaginous or horny operculum; base of the branchiæ circular. Tube calcareous, fixed.

S. Antarctica, Quatrefayes, l.c., II., p. 503 (1865).

Branchiæ short, cirri 24–25. Operculum infundibuliform, sub-concave, margin denticulated; body of 70–80 segments, anteriorly 7; anterior setæ filiform, rounded; laminæ denticulated; tube like that of S. vermicularis.

S. Zealandica, Baird, P.L.S., XI., p. 21, pl. II., f. 9 (1864).

Animal unknown; operculum white, small, sub-concave, margin with 20 denticulations; tube slender, white, creeping, nearly round, longitudinal, dorsal keel small, transversely flexuously striated.

Probably the same as the last (F.W.H.)

S. (Eupomatus) Boltoni, Baird, P.L.S., XI., p. 12, pl. I., f. 2.

Animal unknown. Operculum horny, infundibuliform, external margin densely crenated, internally with 20 calcareous pointed teeth. Tube red, three-angled, adherent, transversely rugose, back canaliculated.

Genus Vermilia, Lamarck.

A single operculum terminated by a calcareous plate, conical, or with various appendages; base of the branchiæ circular; tube calcareous, fixed.

Sub-genus Placostegus, Philippi.

Operculum terminated by a calcareous, disc-like plate, with an entire margin.

V. Cariniferus, Gray. Dieffenbach's New Zealand, II., p. 242.

(Vermitus), Baird, P.L.S., XI., p. 12.

Tube thick, irregularly twisted, opaque white, with a high compressed wavy keel along the upper edge; mouth orbicular, with a tooth above it, formed by the keel; operculum orbicular, horny. (Gray).

The whole animal is of a fine blue colour, and the elegant tuft of branchial filaments intensely azure, banded with white. (Baird).

V. Cærulea, Schmarda, l.c., p. 29, pl. 21, f. 178. Quat., l.c., II., p. 512.

Tube trigonal, blueish; operculum clavate, border smooth. Peduncles short, irregularly three-sided.

New Zealand and the Cape of Good Hope.

No doubt the same as the last (F.W.H.)

V. Greyi, Quatrefages, l.c., II., p. 510.

Branchiæ short, cirri 24–26; operculum sub-infundibuliform, flat, roughish; body 70–80-ringed; anterior setæ rather short, curved, slightly margined; laminæ striate; tube rough, keeled; aperture wide and obtusely dentated.

Sub-genus Podioceros, Quatrefages.

Operculum terminated by a flat surface, calcareous or cartilaginous, carrying a large number of short thick spines.

V. Mahoria, Quatrefayes l.c. II., p. 520.

Branchiæ very short; cirri 20; operculum margined, bidentate behind; body of 50–60 rings, anteriorly 7; anterior setæ curved, fringed; laminæ obtusely denticulated. Tube like that of V. greyi.

V. Strigiceps, Morch, Rev. Serp., p. 66. Quat. l.c. II., p. 521.

Operculum orbicular, flat; tube agglomerated, creeping, trigonal; dorsal keel compressed, acute, laciniated, beaked, with a series of punctiform impressions on either side; laterally convex; lines of growth often laminated, crowded.

North Australia and New Zealand.